1 / 22

Slang of the 20th Century: From Flappers to Rappers

Explore the ever-evolving world of slang from the 20th century, from the flapper era to the rise of rap culture. Understand how slang reflects each generation's values and identity.

natividadd
Download Presentation

Slang of the 20th Century: From Flappers to Rappers

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Slang of the 20th Century:From Flappers to Rappers(From Tom Dalzell’s Book) Alan D. DeSantis

  2. Some Opening Notes: • A) Slang changes quickly • 10% retention rate every 10 years (Eble, 1987) • B) But slang is reincarnated over and over again • The same terms are seen every generation • Often w/ different meanings (drag, fat, bimbo) • C) Used almost exclusively by the young • D) Every generation “slangs” what is important to them • Studying their slang is a way to understand a generation

  3. Some Opening Notes: • E) Why is slang used? • 1) It conceals meaning from parents • But do kids use slang in front of them? • 2) It identifies you as part of the tribe • 3) It defies authority (talking like a rebel) • 4) It makes one feel special & important • 5) It excludes other peer groups

  4. Let’s Test Your Knowledge of Slang • Use the open spaces in your workbook • Or number your paper from 1 through 21. • For each question, give me your best guess. • At the end of class, we will award the Championship to the “Hippest Cat!” • No Cheating!!

  5. I. From 1900-1919 • Before the end of WWI (1919) there was little use of slang • Why: Mass media was not a “national” phenomenon • Terms could not be shared or spread by the youth culture • College students used slang “locally” • At UK, we have: Ho, POT, the Keys • But there was one NATIONAL exception . . .

  6. I. From 1900-1919 • 1) 23 Skidoo • Three meanings: OK, Good, See You Later • This was the 1st National Slang Term(1905)

  7. II. 1920-30s: From Flappers to Jazz • 1920s captured by F. Scott Fitzgerald • Times were good and decadent • The early 30s were depression years • Times were tough • The late 30s were swing and big-band jazz (the gangster rap of the age) • Strong slang influence from blacks culture

  8. II. 1920-30s: From Flappers to Jazz • 2) Half-cut, fried, jammed, juiced, pie-eyed, polluted, plastered, shot, tanked • Drunk (most popular reference of the age) • 3) Bat, brawl, buzz, rag, toot, wrestle, egg harbor • A dance party • 4) 5 Things: Gob stick, dog house, gobble pipe, skins, git box • Instruments: clarinet, bass, sax, drums, guitar • If you got all 3, you are swanky or tasty

  9. III. 1940s: From the War to Babies • 1941-45 saw WWII • Much slang was based on male war interactions • After the war, America experience good times • “Happy Days Are Here Again” #1 Song • They seemed to name everything • Not many stayed around

  10. III. 1940s: From the War to Babies • 5) Drooly, pappy, swoony, BTO, PC, • An attractive man (big-time operator, prince charming) • 6) 5 Things: Moss, blinkers, flops, schnozz, pillars • Body Parts: Hair, eyes, ears, nose, legs • 7) Fatal pill, go-away kiss, lead pill, check out, blotto, in the drink • WWII Terms: Bullets and dying • If you got these 3, you are a real hep cat(most popular term)

  11. IV. 1950s: From Cool to Beat • 1950s were “Happy Days,” at least on the surface • But there were always Fonzies • Young were restless(rejection of parents) • Salinger’s Catcher, Brando’s Wild One, Dean’s Rebel, & Elvis’ Jailhouse Rock • The Beatnick movement also exploded • Wore black, drank coffee, & read poetry • Terms: Hipster, like, daddy-o, cat, & dig

  12. IV. 1950s: From Cool to Beat • 8) Bad news, beast, bomb, hack, kemp, wedge • Cars & Hot Rods (many terms) • 9) Cut the grass, don’t tense, fade out, get bent • Insults: Shut up, take it easy, disappear, I hate you • 10) Squaresville, deadsville, dullsville • A bad place to be • If you got all 3, you are cool (#1), creamy, fat, mad, hairy

  13. V. 1960’s: From Surf to Dope • Breaking away from the conservative 50s • Rock Peaked: • Motown, British Invasion, Acid Rock, Hippie Rock, folk, & Woodstock • It was the most politically active & individually expressive decade of the Century • Anti-Vietnam, Feminism, Civil Rights, Free Love, Free Speech, Black Power, etc.

  14. V. 1960’s: From Surf to Dope • 11) Barf, blow, beets, flash, heave, ralph, • To get sick • 12) Category: Hang ten, stoked, bitchin, dude, bro • Surf Terms • 13) Reefer, gage, mary jane, spliff, jay, doobie, roach • Marijuana • If you got all 3, you’re bad, boss, freak, suave

  15. VI. 1970-80s: From Disco to New Wave • 70s and 80s share a lot in common • Politically inactive, pop-culture driven, no wars, no meaningful direction • Called the “Me Generation” • Really big with 1 or 2 word exclamations!! • Basic! (right) Be real!, Bite me!, Cool Beans!, Eat me!, Go for it! H0! (great), Heard that!, Not!

  16. VI. 1970-80s: From Disco to New Wave • 14) Boff, boink, grind, do the nasty, deed, or wild thing • Sex • 15) To chill, hang, veg, jell, kick it, ease • To do nothing • 16) Category: Fer sure, Tscha, grody, totally, to the max • Valley girl: “Gag me with a spoon” • If you missed these, you are beat, gnarly, harsh, heinous

  17. VII. 1990-2000: Your Generation • Times have been good • Strong economy, no world wars, high college rates • Three Major Influences • Pop culture (TV & Movies) • Computers/Technology • Hip Hop

  18. VII. 1990-2000: Your Generation • 17) Biscuit, burner, heater, joint, steel, toast • Guns • 18) Category: Later, Peace Out, “How you doin’,” “Wha’s up” • Greetings • 19) Bones, Franklins, G’s, jacks, yard, clout • Money • 20) Break, bust, chat, comp, freestyle, kick, rip • Rap or sing • 21) Been there, done that; outta my way man; cowabunga; hurl; take a pill; babe-osity; Not!; schwing; party on! • Bart & Wayne (pop culture icons) • If you got all 5, you are “Phat,” “Tight,” or “the Bomb”

  19. Closing Thoughts • A) Many words are cyclical and reincarnated • 1930’s gave us: • Suck, sweet, mellow, not! • 1940’s gave us: • Brutal, cap, fly, scrub, tasty, groovy • 1950’s gave us: • Clue, hang, kill, nerd, trip, turn on • All have been reincarnated at least 3 times • Thus, each generation is not as innovative as they think

  20. Closing Thoughts • B. Every generation “slangs” the same 8 things • 1) girls/guys • 2) drinking • In 1737, Ben Franklin counted 228 terms for drunkenness (1st slang list) • 3) greetings • 4) sex • 5) popular people • 6) unpopular people • 7) money • 8) homosexuals • Are these the most important topics for the young? • Looks like you, your parents, & your grandparents were not that different after all

  21. Closing Thoughts • C. What causes “slang” to change? • Answer: When mainstream America starts using it! • Why Hip-Hop vocabulary changes so quickly • D. Slang is here to stay • And NO, you will not understand the next generation • Isn’t that the point of slang?!

  22. Later Dudes!

More Related